Abstract: The invention relates to a gas generator, especially for an air bag, having two tubes (9, 10) arranged concentrically one in the other, the inner tube (10) forming the combustion chamber, containing the fuel (3), and being closed by a cover plate (11) and an end plate (12). The gas generator is especially suitable for the use of laughing gas and has a cover plate (11) joined to an end plate (12) by an igniter tube (7) passing through the combustion chamber. An ignition element is disposed in the cover plate, whose discharge opening for the ignition gases is in communication with the igniter tube (7). A longitudinally displaceable piston (2) is disposed in the igniter tube (7), and radial openings (6) into the combustion chamber are disposed in the igniter tube (7). The igniter tube (7) is connected with an outlet in the end plate (12).

Abstract: A rail guidable conveying device for conveying sheet-like products (21) in a conveying direction (F), having a guide part (2), a carrying part (3) which is arranged on the guide part and is configured for retaining a product, and a coupling part (4), which can be magnetically coupled to a drive means (5) and is configured such that the strength of the coupling to the drive means is variable. The invention also relates to a conveying apparatus having a drive means and a plurality of the conveying devices.

Abstract: An improved expansion gap designed to permit expansion tolerances between consecutive rail end sections which is comprised of corresponding oblique end cuts for the stock rail head with the combination of conventional squared-end cuts for both the web portion and the stock rail foot of the adjacent rail section ends; having connecting and fastening means so arranged as to produce a no-gap resultant effect, therefore achieving a continuous and uninterrupted surface on the rail end sections to provide for the smooth transfer of the wheels of railway vehicles across these rail end sections, while allowing for expansion tolerances yet able to greatly reduce/overcome the impact and pounding of the rolling wheels. The practical angles of obliqueness for the stock rail head being between 10 degrees to 60 degrees and a 30-degree of obliqueness is considered very suitable.

Abstract: The invention is a support structure for a railed-vehicle that includes individual, unassembled components sized for easy transport. In one embodiment, the support structure includes curved columns integrally-formed with a base, the columns imparting a curved, Y-shaped configuration to the support structure. The components may be prefabricated with known materials and methods and transported to an installation site for assembly. The support structure is preferably sized to support one or two vehicle guideways. The support structure may include a pile foundation for improved support during seismic activity and to facilitate installation on existing streets and sidewalks without covering or interfering with underground plumbing or utilities. Preferably, multiple sections of the guideway are rigidly secured together through expansion joints to define a continuous guideway such that loads on the guideway are distributed over multiple columns.

Abstract: A transport system has a pair of levitating rails, each of the levitating rails has a core with a plurality of coils extending circumferentially around each of the cores. The coils are perpendicular to the lengths of the levitating rails. Each of the levitating rails has an upper surface directly above the core. A vehicle has wheels that roll on the upper surfaces of the levitating rails in a nonlevitating position. The vehicle has a plurality of magnets that create magnetic fields that pass through the coils while the vehicle is moving along the levitating rails. The magnetic fields induce current, which in turn causes an opposing magnetic field that levitates the vehicle. A steering rail having a plurality of coils is mounted to at least one of the guideways. Permanent steering magnets are located on each side of the steering rail to magnetically steer the vehicle along the guideways.

Abstract: Means and method for producing a device capable of articulating individual railcars in the railyard as needed in real time and without need of fixed shop tooling is disclosed.

Abstract: A load weigh valve assembly for a railway car is provided. The load weigh valve assembly is mounted to the truck frame on primary sprung trucks to enable actuation of the load weigh valve pivot arm. The load weigh valve assembly is also mounted to the truck frame so as to eliminate the problems associated with oscillating and sliding motion at the load weigh valve pivot arm. In addition, the undesirable valve actuation that occurs due to car roll is eliminated.

Abstract: A friction shoe is provided for use in a railway freight car truck. A freight car truck comprises two laterally spaced sideframes with a bolster extending transversely between said sideframes. The bolster has two ends each of which extends into an opening in each sideframe and is supported by a spring group in each sideframe opening. A friction shoe is provided in a sloped pocket between each bolster end and a vertical face of the sideframe. The friction shoes are themselves comprised of a sloped wall, a vertical rear wall extending from a lower part of the rear wall to a lower part of the sloped wall, and side support walls. The friction shoe provides damping for the bolster supported on each spring group. The friction shoe of the present invention also includes generally circular openings in the side support walls.

Abstract: A guide wheel assembly, which can be pre-assembled as a single unit, is configured to be connectable to a guide frame of a rail guided vehicle. The guide wheel assembly generally includes a fixed component connectable to the guide frame and a rotating component rotatably supported on the fixed component by a bearing assembly. The elements of the fixed component, the rotating component and the bearing assembly are assembled on a shaft of the fixed component from a top or first end of the shaft. The shaft includes a support member secured at a second end of the shaft and configured to prevent the rotating component from detaching from the fixed component in the event of bearing failure.

Abstract: A cargo discharge railcar for comprising a generally rectangular base structure, a plurality of walls coupled to the base structure defining an enclosure for carrying cargo, a hopper portion coupled to the base structure, a discharge gate coupled to the hopper portion, a control system coupled to the discharge gate for opening and closing the discharge gate, a central processing unit for controlling the control system, and a global positioning system receiver electrically coupled to the central processing unit for receiving longitude and latitude data from a global positioning system transmitter orbiting the Earth. The discharge gate is adapted to be selectively opened and closed based in part upon the longitude and latitude of the cargo discharge railcar.

Abstract: An outlet gate assembly has upper and lower gate assemblies with independent drive mechanisms to open and close the gates. The drive mechanisms may be rack and pinion drives. The racks for the lower gate do not enter the gate cavity. The outlet gate assembly can be used for vacuum, gravity or pneumatic sled discharge. The vacuum openings are offset from the center plane of the discharge area to allow free flow of lading. The lower gate assembly includes surfaces that cover and protect the lowermost horizontal surfaces of the assembly when the lower gate assembly is closed. Thus, no separate mud plate is needed. The outlet gate assembly includes seals made of an ultra high molecular weight polymer.

Abstract: A coil car has a pair of deep side sills and a trough structure mounted to, and suspended between, the deep side sills for carrying coils. The side sills extend between the rail car trucks and act as a pair of deep side beams for carrying vertical loads. The deep side sills are arranged to extend above and below the center sill of the coil car to give vertical stiffness to the coil car. The top chord members of the side sills are outwardly splayed relative to the bottom chord members of the side sills. Cross-bearers extend outwardly and away from the center sill to attach to the side sills. The trough structure has three parallel, longitudinally extending troughs—a central trough lying between two laterally outboard outer troughs. Each trough is shaped to cradle steel coils, or other similar loads, between its inwardly and downwardly sloping shoulder plates. The shoulder plates are lined with cushioning to buffer coils during loading or travel.

Abstract: A center partition or center beam railroad freight car with a bulkhead at each end and a depressed cargo-carrying floor located on each side of the center beam in an intermediate portion of the car located between respective end portions of the car having higher floors. A wide bottom plate of the center sill in the intermediate portion of the car is included as a part of the depressed cargo-carrying floor, and crossbearers are attached to the bottom of the center sill, extending laterally to side sills in the intermediate section of the car to support floor sheets that extend laterally outward from the bottom plate of the center sill. Longitudinal stringers are attached to the underside of the bottom plate of the center sill between the crossbearers. A body bolster has arms that extend diagonally upward and outward to side sills supporting the higher floors in the end portions of the car.

Abstract: The railcar includes modified side top chord members which allow for increased hauling capacity. Additionally, the side top chord member is designed to improve the loading characteristics of this member. The end top chord members and corner cap member have been designed to minimize the fabrication and assembly process. The end top chord members have been designed to improve the stress distribution through this member. All of these characteristics combine to form an improved top chord structure for the railcar.

Abstract: A rail vehicle having an end provided with a driver's cab, said vehicle having a rigid frame extending under said driver's cab, said rail vehicle having a protective shield disposed in front of said driver's cab and provided with a rigid structure, said protective shield resting on said frame and being connected to said frame via at least one energy-absorbing element interposed locally between the shield and the frame.

Abstract: To a plate 50, a flange 52b provided by bending the plate, a flange 52 being orthogonal substantially to the flange 52b and provided bending the plate, and a recessed portion except for a flange between two flanges are provided. To a plate 60, a flange 62c provided by bending the plate, a raised portion protruded from a parallel side 62b to a flange 62c at an end portion in a longitudinal direction of the flange 62c and a vicinity of the end portion are provided. An end portion in a longitudinal direction of the flange 52c and the end portion in the longitudinal direction of the flange 62c are abutted and further an end portion of the plate 60 is abutted to an outer side of a circular arc portion of the flange 52b from the plate. The raised portion is inserted and abutted to the recessed portion and the respective abutted portions are welded. In a case where two plates in which a flange is provided by bending the plate are intended to a welding, an occurrence of a space in a welding portion can be prevented.

Abstract: A well car for carrying shipping containers has a pair of end structures supported by rail car trucks, a pair of first and second spaced apart side beams extending between the end structures and a well defined therebetween. A container support cross member is mounted between the side sills in a position to support an end of a shipping container load carried within the well. The container support cross member includes a monolithic beam member with a attachment fitting formed at an end thereof. The attachment fitting is connected to a side sill at a moment connection. The remaining end of the cross member is similarly configured and connected to the second side sill. Each end of the cross member has load bearing surface portions which may be used for supporting a corner of a shipping container. The moment connections permit a bending moment to be carried by the cross member between the first and second side sills. A retractable container stop is mounted to each end of the central container support cross member.

Abstract: A center beam railroad freight car with a depressed cargo-carrying floor located on each side of the center beam in an intermediate portion of the car located between respective end portions of the car having higher floors. A bottom plate of the center sill in the intermediate portion of the car is included as a part of the depressed cargo-carrying floor, and crossbearers support floor sheets that extend laterally outward. Side surfaces of the center sill and columns of the center beam are coplanar.

Abstract: Methods of enhancing the photostabilizing of silver in medical materials are described. More particularly, the methods increase the photostabilization of silver in certain materials comprising hydrophilic, amphoteric and anionic polymers by subjecting the polymers to solutions containing an organic solvent and silver, during or after which one or more agents are added which facilitate the photostablization of the material.

Abstract: An ink set consists of several inks containing at least one of a red ink and a magenta ink, one of a blue ink and a cyan ink, and a yellow ink for piezo inkjet printers operating according to a drop-on-demand method. Each one of the inks contains at least one water-soluble dye as a principal colorant, a solvent, and one or more anti-drying agents. The solvent is substantially water. A first one of the inks contains “Direct Blue 189” as a primary or exclusive dye, a second one of the inks contains “Reactive Red 180” as a primary or exclusive dye, and a third one of the inks contains “Reactive Yellow 37” as a primary or exclusive dye. A black ink may be added to the ink set.

Abstract: An aqueous ink offering good waterfastness, rub resistance, and stability suitable for use in ink jet printers, as writing inks, and in other printing inks includes a colorless aromatic sulfonic acid compound, at least one pigment, and a water-soluble polyol or polyether, particularly polyethylene glycol. Pigments are easily dispersed in the ink compositions of the invention and the ink compositions have excellent dispersion stability and bleed resistance.

Abstract: A cement powder is disclosed that contains reactive tricalcium phosphate nanoparticles and other ingredients required to form a cementous material. Methods of making the reactive tricalcium phosphate nanoparticles, the cement powder, the cement paste, and cured cement are also provided, as are methods and articles for using the cement.

Abstract: A method for continuously calcinating product to form mixed metal oxide powders comprising providing a continuously operated indirectly heated rotary furnace having a heating cavity, introducing raw feedstock including product to be calcined into the heating cavity of the furnace while the heating cavity is maintained at temperature, and maintaining a controlled atmosphere in the heating cavity during the heating of the feedstock, and discharging and recovering the mixed metal oxide powders.

Abstract: An improved process for producing a substantially pure gamma phase a quinacridone pigment or pigment derivative involving preparing an aqueous slurry of a crude quinacridone in the presence of caustic alkali and a non-polar, water immiscible solvent; and heating said slurry at a temperature above about 120° C.

Abstract: A dry cementitious composition which when slurried with water produces an economical hydraulic cementitious slurry for closing abandoned wells. The dry cementitious composition is a cement/CKD blend as the major component with a weight ratio of parts cement to parts of CKD between about 2/3 and about 3/1. Hydraulic cementitious slurries when cured can produce hard cementitious bodies which will meet or exceed the API specification for a competent hard plug. A process for blending the cement and CKD during transit from the cement source to the off-load site without requiring further blending after off-loading. Methods are provided for determining the formulation having the cheapest cost per unit volume of hydraulic cementitious slurry thereby enabling competitive quotes based on cf of hydraulic cementitious slurry required.

Abstract: The invention relates to a porous silicate granular material, especially as aggregate for the production of construction materials such as lightweight concrete, mortar or heat-insulating plaster containing glass and a glassy-crystalline component comprising 45 to 85 wt. % SiO2, 5 to 20 wt. % alkali oxide, 5 to 30 wt. % alkaline earth oxide and 2 to 30 wt. % of other oxides such as Al2O3 and/or Fe2O3, whereby the glassy crystalline component accounts for 5 to 75 wt. % of the granular material. The glassy crystalline component of the granular material according to the invention is the sinter reaction product of a mixture of quartz powder and/or another essentially pure fine-grained SiO2 carrier, a powdered clay and/or powdered clay mineral, Portland cement, caustic soda and an expanding agent as least one additive.

Abstract: A foldable table for steering wheel with features and devices that include: a table angle control (9), a springing strip (31), a limit stopper (32) and reinforcing rib (34) on the support (3) to restrict the foldable table not to fall apart in fold-up position for easy carrying and storage; different ways of easily and rigidly mounting the foldable table on a steering wheel which can be removed just as easily as mounting; and a oblong slot on the surface of the foldable table for storage of pens, utensils, etc.

Abstract: A worksurface support assembly for use with a worksurface. The worksurface assembly includes a plurality of legs extending upward from a base surface to a bottom surface of the worksurface. A plurality of crossbeams are connected to the legs. A plurality of clamps interconnect the crossbeams and the legs such that the legs are capable of angular movement relative to one another prior to connection to the worksurface.

Abstract: An interchangeable table top arrangement has a frame and backer board that can fit over a pre-existing table top or can be attached to a pedestal and used as a main table top. The frame and backer board define a recess, and an interchangeable insert fits into this recess. A hook-and-eye material (i.e., Velcro®) or other suitable releasable attachment system hold the insert in place within the frame. Finger holes in the backer board facilitate separating the attachment system to change out the insert. The inserts may have designs imprinted on them, e.g., advertising, holiday theme material, or game boards.

Abstract: A removable shelving unit for use with pop-up campers, flea market vendor tables and certain dormitory furniture. The shelving unit consists of two side arms, which use either a bottom edge or a slot as a stabilizing mechanism for the shelving unit. A plurality of shelves are attached, either directly to the side arms, or to a back attached to the side arms. One of a several securing apparatuses are used to secure the shelving unit to various fixed members in the pop-up camper, on the tables, or furniture. Certain securing apparatuses are for use with the flat surface of a table, a rod or a C-shaped track.

Abstract: A system for drying sludge includes a shaftless spiral feed screw for moving sludge through a drying chamber. An high energy inductor is located at a output of the drying chamber for drawing hot gases through the chamber to dry the sludge as it advances from the input end to the output end of the chamber. The high energy inductor also aspirates the dried sludge from the chamber. The drying system can be used in conjunction with a waste-to-energy furnace for incineration of sludge and municipal waste. In such an arrangement, the dried sludge can be aspirated from the drying chamber directly into a combustion zone of the furnace. Hot gases from the furnace can be used in drying the sludge.

Abstract: A sewing machine having a threading device is disclosed, the sewing machine comprising a needle bar having a needle attached to the lower end thereof, the needle having a needle eye, a threading shaft having a threading member mounted to the lower end thereof, the threading member having a threading hook, a drive motor for vertically moving the threading shaft along the needle bar, guide means for guiding and rotating the threading shaft at a threading position as the same is vertically moved, a regulating member for deciding the threading position of the threading shaft, wherein the threading shaft is moved down and stopped at the threading position and is axially rotated to pass the treading hook through the needle eye and is maintained in this state until a return signal is given such that the drive motor is driven again to pull the threading hook out of the needle eye and move up the threading shaft.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved steering system for a water craft and an improved method of steering. The steering system includes at least two variable camber plates or rudders mounted to a hull of the water craft for imparting a steering force to the water craft. Each of the variable camber plates is preferably formed from a flexible material and has a leading edge affixed to the hull. A linkage mechanism is attached to a steering device on the water craft and causes at least one of the plates to move relative to the hull and thereby vary the camber of the at least one plate.

Abstract: An improved turret for a turret mooring arrangement characterized by the turret including an upper section and a lower section which are coupled together by a flex joint. The turret mooring arrangement also includes a turret insert tube with a lower section that is rotatably coupled to the vessel by a radial bearing assembly. The radial bearing assembly includes an outer member having an outer profile arranged and designed to cooperate with a complementary profile in the interior of the turret insert tube so that the outer member is turned by the turret insert tube when the vessel rotates about said turret, without fixed attachment of the outer member to the turret insert tube. Methods of installing a turret and lower bearing assembly within a turret insert tube of a vessel are also disclosed.

Abstract: An improved system and method for storing and conveying (e.g. towing) fluids are provided. In general, the system comprises a collapsible fluid container 100 with an elongate shape and a first and a second end; a flexible fluid conduit 400 fixedly attached to the front end of the container; towing/mooring means 420, 440 attached to said conduit; retarder/mooring means 310, 320 attached to said container second end; and container retrieval, storage and deployment means 910, 911.

Abstract: The present invention is a stabilizer ring for a sea anchor, in particular a parachute sea anchor. The preferred embodiment of the stabilizer ring comprises a ring supporting a domed arch. The domed arch has two arch supports that divide the ring into a plurality of sections. Each arch support has a vertex and the two arch supports are connected at their vertices. The domed arch is pivotally connected to a swivel. The swivel has two loops pivotally connected by a bolt.

Abstract: A pontoon comprising a seamless, non-woven, one-piece, inflatable vessel preferably formed by a process of rotational molding, from a resilient, semi-rigid polyolefin elastomer, preferably metalocene. The pontoon has shape memory characteristics, which make it partially self-inflating, and cause it to entrap air when partially deflated, to thereby resist complete deflation if punctured, allowing a user to more easily get to safety. Punctures in the pontoon may be easily eliminated by applying heat to the polymer material at the site of the puncture, such as with a hot knife or other metal implement, so as to fuse the polymer material together. The bottom of the pontoon is preferably thicker than the top, and the ends of the pontoon taper to a blunt point that is thicker still, to thereby resist damage from impact and to help maintain the desirable shape-memory characteristics of the pontoon.

Abstract: A small watercraft has a longitudinally extending, straddle type seat. A rear deck of the watercraft is disposed generally behind the seat, and the upper surface of the rear deck is vertically higher than the upper surface of the seat. A front wall of the rear deck comprises a back support adjacent a rear end of the seat. The rear end of the seat is vertically movable from a position wherein the upper surface of the rear seat is generally lower than the upper surface of the rear deck to a position wherein the upper surfaces of the rear seat and rear deck are generally aligned. In some embodiments, a rear seat portion moves relative to a front seat portion. The rear seat is configured so that when it is vertically higher than the front seat portion, a front edge of the rear seat comprises a back support for a rider seated on the front seat portion.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a low tire pressure warning system comprising a tubular assembly threaded on to a tire valve stem and having an internal piston movable therein in response to a differential in tire pressure and present spring forces on opposite sides of the piston to trigger a warning signal such as a red colored strip visible along the housing.

Abstract: A traffic delineator includes a hollow cylinder and a base, useable for connecting cordons, affixing a warning lamp, warning flags or indicating driving directions, etc. The cylinder has one or two areas separated by two or three outwardly extending flanges formed in an upper and an intermediate portion for adhering reflexive sheets on outer surfaces, an M-shaped grip with two parallel through holes, a small through hole on the two parallel holes and two grooves for inserting warning flags. The base has a center hole for the lower end portion of the cylinder to fit therein to stand upright stably by means of the large dimensions and the large weight of the base.

Abstract: A vehicle horn has a bell having a circular plate formed at a rear end thereof, a vibration sheet mounted on the circular plate and a contact seat mounted on a central portion of the vibration sheet. A roller is rotatable about an axis through the center of the contact seat. A motor has an output axle extending through a rotor, and a flange formed at a front end thereof and engaged with the circular plate of the bell. A vibration seat is mounted on a front end of the output axle and faces the contact seat. The vibration seat has a wave-like surface being composed of a plurality of staggered concavities and convexities, and is engaged with the roller.

Abstract: A banner and support assembly for supporting a banner or flag to a vertical rod, such as a motor vehicle antenna, in an unfurled state at all times. The assembly includes a banner formed of cloth or other flexible material and a banner support for attaching the banner to the antenna. The banner has a vertical sleeve disposed at a side edge of the banner for receiving the antenna, and a vertical sleeve disposed at the upper edge of the banner for receiving the banner support. The banner support includes a vertical clip portion and a horizontal arm disposed at the upper end of the clip portion. The clip portion is generally C-shaped having an inner diameter less than the outer diameter of the antenna to receive the banner and antenna to frictionally clamp the banner to the antenna. The arm portion of the support extends through the vertical sleeve of the banner to maintain the banner in the unfurled state at all times.

Abstract: A ground marker for marking a location on the ground to indicate the location and possibly the orientation of a buried object, such as an underground utility line. The ground marker includes a ground penetrating stake, and a substantially planar marker plate. The stake has at one end a head with a long dimension and a short dimension, and a substantially planar point with outwardly biased barbs at the other end. The marker plate also has a long dimension and a short dimension, and has an opening for receiving the stake, configured such that the long dimension of the stake head will align with the long dimension of the marker plate when the stake is extended through the opening, and such that relative rotation of the stake and marker plate is prevented.

Abstract: A pointer instrument, in particular in a motor vehicle, has two pointer shafts (3, 8) which can each be driven by a separate pointer drive (13, 9) and are arranged one next to the other, and two scales (1, 2) which are arranged concentrically with respect to one another and are each intended for one pointer (4). One of the pointer shafts (8) is arranged eccentrically, while the other pointer shaft (3) is arranged concentrically with respect to the two concentric scales (1, 2). The pointer which is assigned to the eccentric pointer shaft (8) is embodied as an optical pointer (6) which has a lightguide (7) which is arranged radially on the eccentric pointer shaft (8) and can rotate with the pointer shaft (8), and a lightguide system (10) which is formed from fixed lightguides (11, 11a), the lightguides (11, 11a) of which each start at a small distance from the movement path of the free end of the rotatable lightguide (7) and lead to display segments (5) on the assigned, concentric scale (2).

Abstract: When nitride series III-V group compound semiconductor is manufactured by gas phase growing using starting material for a group III element, ammonia as a starting material for a group V element and hydrogen, the gas phase molar ratio of hydrogen to the total amount of hydrogen and ammonia (H2/(H2+NH3)) is specified to 0.3<(H2/(H2+NH3))<0.7, 0.3<(H2/(H2+NH3))<0.6 or 0.4<(H2/(H2+NH3))<0.5. A nitride series III-V group compound semiconductor can thus be manufactured with less non-emission center and of excellent crystallinity.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of increasing the extent of a desired biaxial orientation of a previously formed non-single-crystal structure by contacting said structure with an oblique particle beam thereby forming in the structure a nucleating surface having increased desired biaxial orientation. The method can further include a step of epitaxially growing the crystalline formation using the nucleating surface to promote the epitaxial growth. The invention also provides a crystalline structure containing a nucleating surface formed by contacting a previously formed non-single-crystal structure with an oblique particle beam, from 0 to 10 adjacent orientation-transmitting layers, and a crystalline active layer. In this structure, the active layer is oriented in registry with the nucleating surface.

Abstract: By using a semiconductor single crystal pulling apparatus for growing single crystals by the Czochralski method while rotating the melt by a magnetic field and electric current, namely by the EMCZ method, which comprises a main pulling means for pulling a single crystal, a holding mechanism for gripping an engaging stepped portion formed on the single crystal through engaging members and a sub pulling means for moving the holding mechanism up and down and in which an electric current is passed through the main pulling means and through the sub pulling means, it is possible to prevent heavy single crystals from undergoing a falling accident and, at the same time, effectively reduce the power consumption. In this pulling apparatus, it is effective to feed an electric current to the sub pulling means alone and it is desirable to dispose two or more electrodes whether the pulling means is of a shaft type or wire type.

Abstract: An apparatus for coating sheet metal strip substrate with lubricant type laminate includes top and bottom roller coaters for pinching the metal therebetween to apply laminate. The roller coaters are movable between engaged and disengaged positions. Pneumatic cylinders for actuating the top and bottom roller coaters are operatively connected such that the top and bottom roller coaters can “float” or move vertically while at the same time pinching the metal strip therebetween. The roller coaters comprise roller coater carriages that carry applicator rolls between support rolls without the need to journal ends of the applicator roll. A spring biased applicator head applies laminate directly to one or more sections of the applicator roll.

Abstract: A radiation cure device (10) has a removable light housing (25). The cure device (10) utilizes a fixed output power supply (55), a shutter mechanism (30) and is easily maneuverable because of its lighter weight. The light housing (20) is laterally offset and is adjustable in a lateral direction.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems, methods and apparatus for high temperature (at least about 500-800° C.) processing of semiconductor wafers. The systems, methods and apparatus of the present invention allow multiple process steps to be performed in situ in the same chamber to reduce total processing time and to ensure high quality processing for high aspect ratio devices. Performing multiple process steps in the same chamber also increases the control of the process parameters and reduces device damage. In particular, the present invention can provide high temperature deposition, heating and efficient cleaning for forming dielectric films having thickness uniformity, good gap fill capability, high density, low moisture, and other desired characteristics.